Kukla's Korner Hockey

ONE BY ONE, they leaned into him, shook his hand vigorously. Some Montreal Canadiens offered hugs, some hearty hits on that hardened, helmeted noggin, until finally Ian Laperriere took the huge contraption off at midice so you could see that gap-toothed smile of his, the one that says - in so many ways - hockey player.

The one that says, too, “2010 Flyers.”

“Guys I don’t even know bearhugged me, wished me luck,” the Flyers’ gritty forward said after last night’s Eastern Conference-clinching, 4-2 victory. “They know I’m getting older and you don’t have too many chances to win a Cup.”

It was more than that, though. Longevity is appreciated in hockey, not bearhugged. These were nods from fellow knights, some from guys glad they don’t have to make their living the way he has, some from guys who maybe see in him a model for their future.